You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. (Kahlil Gibran)
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
1 PETER 3:13-16 NKJ
Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. Peter could have said this at an AA meeting and it would have fit right in. We share our experience, strength and hope with each other, and we find encouragement in knowing that others have overcome times when all seemed to come against them. Peter was familiar with times when everything seemed to go the wrong way. The night they arrested Jesus, as they came against the Lord and the disciples, Peter who carried a sword, pulled it and cut a guy. Later that same evening they came against Peter with questions and he denied the Lord. The next day at 3pm Jesus died on the cross, and Peter left. The twenty-four hours up to that time were not good, or they seemed not to be good to Peter, but actually God was working a work in and through Peter and all men that would set us all free from the bondage of sin and a life of hopelessness. Fifty days later as 120 followers of Jesus were gathered together, as promised, the Holy Ghost came and filled them with power to be bold and to be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. As I sit in gatherings of other believers I find also that this Power comes upon me, and gives me the desire to share about the hope that I have in myself. When I sit in AA meetings and listen to other people share their experience, strength and hope, I also receive Power that can be used in my own life as I daily thread myself through situations that could possibly reach out and try to bring me down. Being willing to tell others of the hope we have takes some learning. At first my pride would get in the way and I found myself ashamed to explain how I had to surrender, and give in to God, to gain the victory and see the hope of a better life. That was my foolish pride when I though that people would think less of me because I depended on God. Actually the opposite has happened. The more I came to rely on God, the more people that I know and associate with came to accept me the way I was. And that was to be dependent on God. Today my desire is to seek God first each day, therefore to keep from straying off into the hopeless state that I used to call the good life. Today I live the true good life, a life where I allow God to do for me what I could not do for myself. Peter had the key to giving a defense for the hope he had, it was having the Lord God holding a spot in his heart that was reserved for God and God only. Thanks for letting me share of the hope I have in knowing Jesus Christ .JRE
But sanctify the Lord in your hearts. (1 Peter 3:15)
Another proof that sanctification means to separate from a profane purpose. We are to give God His rightful place; hold Him in reverence. (The Dake Bible, page 267)
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
1 PETER 3:13-16 NKJ
Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. Peter could have said this at an AA meeting and it would have fit right in. We share our experience, strength and hope with each other, and we find encouragement in knowing that others have overcome times when all seemed to come against them. Peter was familiar with times when everything seemed to go the wrong way. The night they arrested Jesus, as they came against the Lord and the disciples, Peter who carried a sword, pulled it and cut a guy. Later that same evening they came against Peter with questions and he denied the Lord. The next day at 3pm Jesus died on the cross, and Peter left. The twenty-four hours up to that time were not good, or they seemed not to be good to Peter, but actually God was working a work in and through Peter and all men that would set us all free from the bondage of sin and a life of hopelessness. Fifty days later as 120 followers of Jesus were gathered together, as promised, the Holy Ghost came and filled them with power to be bold and to be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. As I sit in gatherings of other believers I find also that this Power comes upon me, and gives me the desire to share about the hope that I have in myself. When I sit in AA meetings and listen to other people share their experience, strength and hope, I also receive Power that can be used in my own life as I daily thread myself through situations that could possibly reach out and try to bring me down. Being willing to tell others of the hope we have takes some learning. At first my pride would get in the way and I found myself ashamed to explain how I had to surrender, and give in to God, to gain the victory and see the hope of a better life. That was my foolish pride when I though that people would think less of me because I depended on God. Actually the opposite has happened. The more I came to rely on God, the more people that I know and associate with came to accept me the way I was. And that was to be dependent on God. Today my desire is to seek God first each day, therefore to keep from straying off into the hopeless state that I used to call the good life. Today I live the true good life, a life where I allow God to do for me what I could not do for myself. Peter had the key to giving a defense for the hope he had, it was having the Lord God holding a spot in his heart that was reserved for God and God only. Thanks for letting me share of the hope I have in knowing Jesus Christ .JRE
But sanctify the Lord in your hearts. (1 Peter 3:15)
Another proof that sanctification means to separate from a profane purpose. We are to give God His rightful place; hold Him in reverence. (The Dake Bible, page 267)
